Host Amber Smith: Here's some expert advice from Dr. Henry Roane from Upstate's Golisano Center for Special Needs. What are the signs of autism and what should a parent do if they believe their child may have autism spectrum disorder?
Henry Roane, PhD: Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that's typically diagnosed in early childhood, and it's characterized by deficits in communication and in social interaction, as well as the presence of repetitive behaviors and really a restricted range of activity interest. And so these children don't talk, they don't develop language kind of the same way that a child might normally do. They might repeat things over and over. They might not engage with back and forth conversations or looking at objects of interest with caregivers, or things like that.
Henry Roane, PhD: Current evidence suggests that autism impacts about one in 44 young children and there's been, obviously, increased awareness. So parents are now more aware of autism. They tend to look for it more in their children. And if a parent's concerned that their child might have autism, what they need to do is ask their pediatrician or other healthcare provider for a referral to a specialist.
Henry Roane, PhD: Autism must be diagnosed by a professional with training and expertise in autism. There's no blood test or scan that can detect autism instead. Doctors diagnose autism by, really, analyzing the child's history, their developmental profile and monitoring their behavior over time. And this is done through a range of specialized assessment measures that require unique training. And those are the kinds of assessments that we do at the Golisano Center for Special Needs.
Henry Roane, PhD: You've been listening to Dr. Henry Roane from Upstate's Golisano Center for Special Needs.
